international press

WIRE 12.2002 by Philip Sherburne

FADER F2 10.2002 by Sean Bumgardner

STRAIGHT NO CHASER 11.2002

STRAIGHT NO CHASER 06.2003

regional press

TIME OUT 01.2003 by Bruce Tantum

EYE 01.2003 by Denise Benson

NOW TORONTO 01.2002 by Benjamin Boles

NOW TORONTO 01.2003 by Benjamin Boles

COLUMBUS ALIVE 07.2003 by Stephen Slaybaugh

THE HOUR [Montreal] 04.2004 by Steve Lalla

TODD SINES +NATACHALABELLE / OVERLAP / Planet E PE65268-1 12”
XLR8R, OCT. 2002 review by Dan Sicko
It’s been 8 years since Todd Sines last appeared on Planet E (its Elements of and Experiments with Sound compilation, to tell the truth). He’s since moved to Toronto from Columbus, and taken his best experiments with him. Of these three compositions featuring Toronto vocalist Natacha Labelle (there are also stirring mixes from Moonstarr and Carl Craig), the edgy dub of “come closer” stands out. Giving just enough space for the lyrical fragments to drift into consciousness, Sines does an excellent job of capturing the song’s urgency.

Dan Sicko’s All Access 2.0 show review: “...The Radioboy set was impressive, but Todd Sines’ live PA is still resonating with me. He played a host of new material (some of which will be released this summer on Planet E) with Toronto vocalist Natacha Labelle. Her very beautiful and comparatively fragile jazz style played well with Todd’s warmer sounding dug / glitch / techno / whathaveyou. Sort of like the Herbert + Siciliano project if it had been hatched under the ~scape umbrella.”

URBAN LANDSCAPE · http://www.urbanlandscapesshow.com by Velanche Stewart
This is some adventure in the abstract from the ever-unpredictable Planet E from Detroit. This one really takes the “left” in leftfield to uncharted territory, as Todd Sines challenges the listener’s convention of what club culture should be. The first tune, “I Cannot,” is some minimalist goodness whose sparseness are contrasted by some heavy beat action, all amidst some interesting use of vocals and other instruments. After the pause in the middle of the tune by silence, everything returns with a wicked bassline added for good measure. “Cum Closer” is very leftfield that way, in the vein of Tricky, with its off-kilter vocals and some downbeat subwoofer-quaking goodness. It’s an acquired taste, and for me it works really well. The first time I’ve heard this one was actually a really dope remix from Toronto’s Moonstarr. Worth seeking that one out too, because that version will bothered you oh-so-badly. Those mad people at Planet E. I don’t know what Carl’s artists are concocting, but Todd Sines’ music will surely have music lovers talking about the deepness of his vibes. Can’t wait to find out how much deeper this man will take us.

SEEMagazine · http://www.seemagazine.com by Prosper Prodaniuk....
Rest assured though, for every hour I enjoy listening to records, there’s two or three hours of listening to boring or terrible records that make me wish I was playing Madden or grocery shopping... That said, the one record that I can’t stop playing and can’t stop thinking about is by techno veteran Todd Sines and Montreal vocalist Natacha LaBelle. Overlap, recently released on Carl Craig’s Planet E label, is beyond beautiful as Labelle croons warmly over Sines’ minimal grooves. Truly like nothing you’ve ever heard before. Think Portishead. Now think Plastikman. You’re on your way there. “come closer” and “skin” are particularly well done.

Joe and Andy · http://www.joeandandy.com/
Is it just me, or did this 12” unfairly slip by too many people? Was it just overshadowed by the completely different Recloose LP? Would it’ve received more attention if it had been released on Perlon or even Seventh City — rather than a label not known for microhouse? At any rate, this is my favorite off the Overlap EP. On the B-side but even more spine tingling than the A-side, “Skin” could’ve been a highlight on Immer, Friends, or  Dan Bell’s The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back. The deep but sparingly utilized bass throbs beneath the crisp percussion (plus whispered female vox in French) — along with its haunted/mysterious tone — make it fit perfectly after “Body Speaking,” provided you’re not attempting to beatmatch.

BSOTS · by Ezekiel
Todd Sines puts together three tracks of dubby, deep tech house featuring the lovely, sultry vocals of Natacha Labelle. “Come Closer” and “i can’t” are nice, minimal, vocal laden bits that could work just as well on the floor as they do on the couch. The vocals complement the sparseness of the melody and the percussion well, and allow the music to breathe without trying too hard, as the vocals pick up the slack. “Skin” has some spoken vocals, rather than sung, but is my least favorite of the three, as it sounds a bit too much like a prototype for dubby techno. Maybe coincidentally, maybe not, it says on the record sleeve that this track was written on a flight from SFO to DTW. The e.p. is closed out by Moonstar’s broken dub remix of “Come Closer,” which includes the main vocal phrase and some of the melody of the original and otherwise is laid back West London style breakbeats. Overall, this is a nice set of tracks for your deep sets or your deep nights at home.

BOOMKAT
Not sure who's behind this label but they seem to be on the detroit tip which is kool with me. What's best is the return of Planet E's Todd and Natacha who I've been awaiting new material from since the genius 'Overlap' 12" on the E' back at the tailend of 2002. Their track on display here is 'Naa' (though you'll be humming "damn yeah") / it's a killer clatterthwack groovin' house track that's that extra bit slinky and sexy. Plus it grooves away for a whole side, funk pumpin' and Natacha's vocals get to you just like Dani Siciliano at her most spellbinding. The b-siders are unknown to me but no minds, Nik Reiff's 'Brzydotta' drop's a highly crisp but heavy rolling techno track with buzzing bass, minimal sonics and barmy vocals while The Jetset's 'Machinepark' is a bit poo but 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Buy for Todd and Nat.

COVERT RECORDS
Todd Sines + Natacha Labelle of planet e-fame kickstart this release and drop some far out beats and vocals; definitely the next step in tech-house. Nik Reiff Feat. Philip Kucharski - Brzydota uses some polska-lyrics to twist your minds...we love it.

GROOVE DISTRIBUTION
Exclusive vinyl-only tracks for a new comp from hot German label, PHILPOT. Featuring some real heavyhitters, with the a-side seeing TODD SINES and NATACHA LABELLE (PLANET E) dropping some next-level Detroit house, the b-side features two unmissably dope deep techy bombs. DOPE!